Textile drafting arrangement



1967 R. M. INGHAM, JR 3,

TEXTILE DRAFTING ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 9', 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR.

ROBERT M.INGHAM,JR. 52 BY FIG. -'2-' W ATTORNEY 1957 R. M. INGHAM, JR 3,336,637

TEXTILE DRAFTING ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT M. INGHAM,JR.

,w F o ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fifice 3,336,637 TEXTILE DRAFTING ARRANGEMENT Robert M. Ingham, Jr., Spartanburg, S.C., assignor to Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Spartanburg, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 417,062 9 Claims. (Cl. 19-245) This invention relates generally to textile fi'ber drafting mechanisms for spinning and roving frames or the like and more particularly to textile fiber drafting mechanisms which employ magnetic weighting of the top roll.

Magnetic drafting roll systems are well known in the 'art and usually employ a short top apron and a long bottom apron on the top and bottom middle drafting rolls, respectively, to control the fiber passing therethrough to the front drafting rolls. These aprons, especially the long bottom apron, tend to accumulate lint, debris, thereon which causes ends down, slubs in the yarn being produced, and deleterious effects on the drafting system. Furthermore, these aprons have the tendency to buckle in the control area between the middle and front drafting roll, thereby resulting in a loss of control of the fibers being drafted.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a magnetic weighted drafting system which employs a Casablancas type apron arrangement in that short drafting aprons are employed on both the top and bottom middle drafting rolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic weighted drafting system which employs a novel cradle arrangement that not only supports the aprons to prevent buckling but also cleans the interior of the apron and the periphery of the drafting rolls.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic weighted drafting system in which the apron tensor elements for each spindle position are separate from the apron tensor elements for the other spindle positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic weighted drafting system in which the cradles are mounted in a novel manner to prevent the rotation of the cradle around the point of contact with the roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide a molded apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning cradle which efficiently cleans a magnetic weighted drafting system and is readily assembled and disassembled thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become clearly apparent as the specification proceeds to described the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially schematic view is perspective of a magnetically weighted drafting arrangement incorporating the herein disclosed invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial end view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 showing the front top roll support in detail;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and p FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the novel apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning element shown in FIGURES 1-4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and especially to FIGURE 1, a running mass of staplefibers F is shown passing in conventional manner successively between pairs of drafting rolls and 12, 14 and 16, and 18 and 20, the middle pair of rolls 14 and 16 having a pair of relatively short endless fiber control aprons 22- and 24, respectively. Depending on the particular drafting system the apron length of apron 24 ranges from about equal to the length of apron 22 to a length which is about greater than the apron 22.

' vention facilitates this control 3,336,637 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 Inasmuch as the major amount of drafting is conventionally accomplished in the zone between the middle rolls 14, 16 and the front rolls 18, 20 from which the fibers proceed and are either twisted into yarn or drafted further, and since the running mass of fibers is also brought to a minimum size in the zone between the middle and front pairs of rolls, it is most desirable that the fibers be con trolled as closely as possible in this zone. The present inby the aprons while also enabling the ease of molding of the apron controlling and cleaning element.

In the preferred form of the invention the top rolls 12, 16 and 20 are driven by the bottom rolls 10, 14 and 18, respectively. Bottom rolls 10, 14 and 18 are metallic rolls, usually of ferrous material to cooperate with the top rolls 12, 16 and 20 which are magnetically weighted to provide sufiicient pressure on the material being drafted to enable these roll-s to perform their desired drafting function, preferably without the aid of weights, lever, spring and/or other additional equipment. The specific construction of the magnetic top rolls 12, 16 and 20 will not be described since such are old and well known in the art and does not form a part of this invention.

Mounted on the spinning, roving or draw frame (not shown) is a support rod 26, to which bracket members 28 are rigidly secured by suitable means such as screws 30. Bracket members 28 have notches 32 therein to accommodate gudgeons 34 on both ends of the roll 12 to allow the cots 36 to be held against the fluted sections 38 of the bottom roll 10 by the magnetic attraction of the roll 12 to the steel roll 10. Notches 32 are deep enough to allow the roll 12 to rest on the roll 10 without the gudgeons bottoming in the notches in order to provide the desired magnetic weighting of the rolls 10 and 12.

In like manner support plate 40 is also mounted on the sprinning, roving, or draw frame (not shown) to support bracket members 42 rigidly attached thereto by suitable means such as screws 44. Brackets 42 have notches 46 therein to accommodate gudgeons 48 of the top front roll 20 to allow the cots 50 to contact the fluted portions 52 of the lower front roll 18 to provide the necessary contact for the desired magnetic effect to accomplish the desired drafting effect. As with the brackets 28,- the notches 46 in the bracket members 42 are deep enough so that gudgeons 48 will not bottom therein.

Support plate 40 further engages notches 54 in the apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning assembly generally designated 56 to prevent rotation of the cradle assembly 56 and roll 16 clockwise about the axis of middle bottom roll 14. To accommodate the notch 54 and to position the apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning assembly 56 a section of the plate 40 is cut out so that the cradle walls 58 and 59 telescope within a notch 60 in the support plate 40.

Looking now in particular to FIGURES 4 and 5 the preferred apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning element 56 is shown in detail. Element 56 consists basically of three components, namely cradle and clearer member 62, cradle and clearer member 64 and apron guiding and connecting member 66.

Various materials may be employed in the formation of the above-mentioned apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning element, including particularly those plastics which are readily moldable and which have good stability and Wear characteristics, such as for instance, Delrin acetal resin, nylon and Bakelite.

Cradle walls 58 and 59 of the apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning assembly have cut out portions 68 and 70, respectively, in the top portion thereof to support the top magnetic roll 16. Normally the prior art top magnetic rolls 16 are manufactured to accommodate two spinning positions as shown in FIGURE 1. Therefore the cut out portions 68 in the outside cradle walls 58 are smaller than the cut out portions 70 in the inside cradle walls 59 to accommodate the gudgeons 72 of the top magnetic roll 16. Cut out portions 70 generally have a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the body portion 74 of the top magnetic roll 16 in order to support and form a bearing surface for the body portion of the top center magnetic roll 16.

The apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning segments 62 and 64 are secured together in a manner hereinafter described to provide a concave roll engaging surface 76 with a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the external diameter of the roll 14 and is in peripheral engagement therewith. Furthermore roll engaging surfaces 78 and 80 in cradle walls 62 and 64, respectively, also have a radius of curvature which is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the roll 16 and has a portion thereof in the same plane as the concave surface 76. The interconnected segments 62 and 64 also provide an apron cleaning and guiding surface 82 which supports run 84 of the apron 22 and cleans the inner surface thereof due to the rubbing action of the apron on the surface. Apron cleaning and guiding surface 82 extends between the concave surface 76 and the nose portion 86 about which the apron reverses direction and is tensioned thereby. Nose portion 86 has a radius of curvature substantially less than that of the concave roll engaging surface 76. Extending between the nose portion 86 and the concave surface 76 adjacent the fiber engaging surface 88 of the apron 22 is a surface 90 which engages the apron 22 adjacent the nose portion 86 but is inclined away at 92 from the apron adjacent the concave roll engaging surface 76 in order to allow the drafting of various diameter fibers without adjusting the drafting area between the aprons 22 and 24 and to aid feed-through of the fiber mass between this surface and the adjacent fiber control run of the apron 24.

Apron guiding and cradle connecting member 66 is similar in function to elements 62 and 64 in that it has side surfaces 94 adjacent the top roll 16, a concave roll engaging surface 95, an apron guiding and cleaning surface 96 in contact with the inner surface of the run 100 of the apron 24 to guide run 100 and clean the inner surface of the apron, an apron reversing nose portion 102 to guide and tension the apron 24 and an apron supporting and cleaning surface 104 adjacent the fiber engaging run 106 of the apron 24. The apron supporting and cleaning surface 104 is slanted away from the fiber engaging run 106 in the direction from the nose portion 102 toward the top roll 16 in order to allow drafting of various diameter fibers without adjusting the drafting area between the aprons 22 and 24.

Integrally molded to the wall members 58 and 59 are apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning segments containing the herein disclosed surfaces 76, 82 and 90 and the nose portion 86. For the sake of simplicity these segments are substantially equal in Width but it is obvious that this is not necessary. Each of these segments are provided with a cavity 108 for the sake of molding. To secure these segments together a plurality of pegs 110 are molded integral with one of the segments and matching holes 112 are drilled or formed during molding in the other segment to accommodate the pegs 110 and secure the segments together with one another underneath the apron 22. It is within the scope of the invention to provide pegs on both segments and complementary holes on the other segment to accommodate same.

To assemble the apron guiding and roll and apron cleaning element of this invention, the cradle and clearer elements 62 and 64 are positioned so that the hereinmentioned segments are located within the confines of the apron 22 and squeezed toward one another with the pegs 110 projecting through the holes 112. The interconnected cradle and clearer elements are then rotated in cut out portions in support plate 40 until the notch 54 engages the support plate. Then a pair of aprons 24 are telescoped onto the top magnetic roll 16 and an element 66 located in the confines of each apron. Then the stub shafts 114 of each element 66 are placed in the notches 116 in the walls 58 and 59 and the top roll 16, aprons 24, and the element 66 are rotated until the gudgeons 72 of the top roll are located in position within the notches 68 and the stub shafts 118 of the element 66 are seated properly in the notches 120. Tabs 122 are provided on the ends of stub shafts 114 and 118 to prevent the cradle and cleaning elements 62 and 64 from separating from one another during operation. The opening between the nose portion 102 of the element 62 and the nose portion 86 is preselected. This preselection can be altered by raising or lowering the stub shafts 114 during molding in order to either close up the opening or increase the opening.

The herein disclosed invention provides a magnetically weighted drafting system in which the rolls and aprons are continuously cleaned in operation and which employs a short bottom apron. Furthermore, the herein disclosed magnetically weighted drafting system provides a system which employs individual tensor elements for each spindle system which eliminates the necessity for knocking off a whole section of the machine when it is necessary to replace aprons on one spindle. Also, the herein disclosed magnetic drafting system confines the apron within certain predetermined limits so that it is not prone to track in one direction or the other.

Although I have described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, I contemplate that many changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention, and I desire to be limited only by the claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A drafting assembly for textile fibers comprising: a pair of drafting rolls each having at least two apron carrying surfaces thereon, one of said rolls being magnetized and the other of said rolls being of a ferrous material and held in nip-forming relation with said magnetized roll, an endless apron disposed about said apron carrying surfaces on each of said rolls, means supplying fiber to be drafted between said pair of drafting rolls, an apron guiding and cleaning element within the confines of two of said aprons, an apron guiding element within the confines of the other of said aprons, said magnetized roll having a body portion of greater diameter than the end portions, said magnetized roll end portions being supported by a cradle member, each of said cradle members having a first wall member and a second wall member operably associated with said elements, said first wall member being spaced from said second wall member, means on one of said elements engaging said first and second wall members and maintaining said first wall member a fixed predetermined distance from said second wall member, each of said first wall members having a cut out portion therein to support said end portions of said magnetized roll and a second larger cut out portion in each of said second wall members to support the body portion of said magnetized roll.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said apron guiding and cleaning elements have two surfaces converging to form a convex nose portion.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said apron guiding and cleaning elements have a concave surface in engagement with said one roll.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said apron guiding elements have a concave surface in engagement with said other roll and has two other surfaces converging in a direction extending away from said concave surface and culminating in a convex nose portion.

5. The structure of claim 2 wherein said drafting assembly includes a second pair of rolls magnetically held in nip-forming engagement and receiving fiber from said first mentioned pair of rolls, and means between and sepabody portion of greater rate from said first mentioned roll of said second pair of rolls in operative relationship with the other roll of said second pair of rolls.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said support means also supports said first and second wall members.

7. The structure of claim 2 wherein said drafting assembly includes support means in engagement with said wall members to prevent angular movement of said wall members.

8. A drafting assembly for textile fibers comprising: a pair of drafting rolls, one of said rolls being magnetized and the other of said rolls being of a ferrous material and held in nip-forming relation with said magnetized roll, each of said rolls having an annular apron carrying surface, an endless apron disposed about said annular surface on each of said rolls, means supplying fiber to be drafted between said pair of drafting rolls, an apron guiding and cleaning element within the confines of one of said aprons, an apron guiding element within the confines of the other of said aprons, said apron guiding and cleaning element having two surfaces converging to form a convex nose portion, said magnetized roll having a diameter than one end portion, a first Wall member operably associated with said elements, a second wall member operably associated with said elements and separate from said first wall member, means on one of said elements engaging said first and second members and maintaining said first member a pair of rolls supporting one fixed predetermined distance from said second wall member, 21 cut out portion in said first wall member to support said one end portion of said magnetized roll and a second larger cut out portion in said second wall member to support the body portion of said magnetized roll, said drafting assembly including a second pair of rolls magnetically held in nip-forming engagement and receiving fiber from said first mentioned pair of rolls, and means between and separate from said first mentioned pair of rolls supporting one roll of said second pair of rolls in operative relationship with the other roll of said second pair of rolls, said support means supporting said first and second wall members.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said drafting assembly includes support means in engagement with said wall members to prevent angular movement of said Wall members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,079,646 3/ 1963 Burnham 19-272 3,116,518 1/1964 Newton 19-245 3,129,467 4/ 1964 Swanson 19-255 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. WADDEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DRAFTING ASSEMBLY FOR TEXTILE FIBERS COMPRISING: A PAIR OF DRAFTING ROLLS EACH HAVING AT LEAST TWO APRON CARRYING SURFACES THEREON, ONE OF SAID ROLLS BEING MAGNETIZED AND THE OTHER OF SAID ROOLS BEING OF A FERROUS MATERIAL AND HELD IN NIP-FORMING RELATION WITH SAID MAGENTIZED ROLL, AN ENDLESS APRON DISPOSED ABOUT SAID APRON CARRYING SURFACES ON EACH OF SAID ROLLS, MEANS SUPPLYING FIBER TO BE DRAFTED BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF DRAFTING ROLLS, AN APRON GUIDING AND CLEANING ELEMENT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF TWO OF SAID APRONS, AN APRON GUIDING ELEMENT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE OTHER OF SAID APRONS, SAID MAGNETIZED ROLL HAVING A BODY PORTION OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE END PORTIONS, SAID MAGNETIZED ROLL END PORTIONS BEING SUPPORTED BY A CRADLE MEMEBER, EACH OF SAID CRADLE MEMBERS HAVING A FIRST WALL MEMBER AND A SECOND WALL MEMBER OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ELEMENTS, SAID FRIST WALL MEMBER BEING SPACED FROM SAID SECOND WALL MEMBERS, MEANS ON ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS EN- 